LT Walter Jones was a pivotal piece of the Seahawks' last Super Bowl run in 2005. / Otto Greule Jr., Getty Images

by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

NEW YORK - Bill Parcells has some advice for the 17 anxious Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists who await their fate Saturday.

Parcells, who led the New York Giants to two Super Bowl titles and is the only coach to lead four franchises to the playoffs, was almost overcome by emotion when he was elected last year on his fourth try.

Parcells convinced himself it wasn't going to happen last year. He worked out and ran errands before getting the call that cemented his legacy.

"With all the anticipation - it's human nature to try and prepare ourselves for the disappointment of not being selected," Parcells told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. "That was the way I was last year. I wasn't selected the year before when I was quite hopeful. Last year, mentally, I was more geared to the possibility of, 'Well, maybe you're not just going to get in.'

"I was better prepared. You protect your emotions a little bit, because you realize you're being chosen from a very large group. And there are a lot of qualified people."

What does it feel like to finally get the Hall call?

"To be recognized in the upper echelon of your chosen industry is a great honor, it's a very exhilarating feeling," Parcells said.

The 46-member selection committee will debate the virtues of the finalists beginning with the senior class candidates, punter Ray Guy and defensive end Claude Humphrey. Then, one media member will extol the merits of each of the 15 modern-era finalists before a cutdown to 10. The debate continues until a maximum of five modern-era candidates along with as many as two senior members are selected by earning 80% of the votes.

The candidates

Morten Andersen, kicker: A 1982 fourth-round pick by the New Orleans Saints, the Danish-born Andersen played 25 seasons and scored 2,544 points, most in league history. He is trying to join Jan Stenerud as Canton's second pure kicker.

Jerome Bettis, running back: Nicknamed "The Bus," Bettis is a fourth-year finalist. When he walked off into the sunset with a Super Bowl XL ring following the 2005 season, the Detroit native ranked fifth all time with 13,662 rushing yards.

Derrick Brooks, linebacker: Never missed a game in his 14-season career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A 2000s All-Decade selection, the six-time all-pro intercepted 25 passes, returned six for touchdowns, forced 24 fumbles and had 13½ sacks.

Edward J. DeBartolo Jr., owner: He led the 49ers to five Super Bowl titles and hired iconic coach Bill Walsh. DeBartolo was suspended for one year and surrendered his ownership stake after pleading guilty for failure to report paying an extortion fee to former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards for a riverboat gambling license.

Tony Dungy, coach: Became the first African-American coach to win a Super Bowl, with the Indianapolis Colts after the 2006 season. His Bucs and Colts teams reached the playoffs in 11 of his 13 seasons. Including postseason games, he was 148-79.

Kevin Greene, linebacker: His 160 sacks with the Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers and 49ers ranked third all time following his 1999 retirement.

Ray Guy, punter: With a 42.4-yard career average, the six-time all-pro played on three Raiders Super Bowl-winning teams.

Charles Haley, defensive end: Will his fifth-year as a finalist prove poetic justice for the only player to be on five winning Super Bowl teams? Haley finished with 100½ career sacks.

Will Shields, guard: The Kansas City Chiefs cornerstone went to 12 Pro Bowls in a row and was on the league's All-Decade team of the 2000s. Helped pave the way for Priest Holmes' then-record 27 rushing TDs in '03.

Michael Strahan, defensive end: Set the season record with 22½ sacks in 2001. The spiritual leader of the New York Giants' 17-14 Super Bowl XLII upset of the Patriots, Strahan went out on top. He was a complete defensive end and stout run stopper with 141½ career sacks.

Aeneas Williams, cornerback-safety: In 14 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams, notched 55 interceptions and was a member of the 1990s All-Decade team.